Electroplating apparatus.



No. 815 O27. V PATE T D L. MEAKER. I I N E MAR 13 1906 y j -ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION PILBDDEG. ze', 1904. l .2 SHEETS-sagm- 1.

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(L L. MEAKER. PA E TED MAR 13, 1906 lELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLIUAT-ION FILED DEO. 28, 1904.

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` Be a known that i, GUY, L. MEA-marcia; -zen of the United States, anda resident of -thereof,reference bei-ng had tothe accompa- -nying,J drawings, and to ,the letters of refer-` ence marked thereon, which frma part of Chicago, in the county'of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use.-` ful Improvementsin Electroplating Apparatus and I dohereby declare that the following is' a full, cleaniandv exact description this specification. y Y. .y

This 1nvent1on relates', to a new machine or apparatus ada ted foruse in theelectrodeposition of meta andmore especially designed cleswith metals,'such as nickel orz'ino.

An apparatus embed-yang the `main features of myinventionembraces a tank for the electrolyte '.or vplating-bath, an" anode or an- `odes connected Withone terminal of the electric generator, a'support for the articles to be platedmadeof conducting material and4 in electricalrconnection with, the other terminal of said generator, means for constantly moving 'or advancing the articles relatively to the lanode or4 anodes or past the area ,of action of the same, and means .for effecting thehturning `over of the articles intheir pro ressive movement, so as to present all si es thereof to- 'ward'the anode or anodes, and thereby prov -vide for the de vosition of the coating on all sides or parts o gsu'ch articles,

The lnvention conslsts 1n the matters here- 35 ,il'afte'r set forth, and more particularly pointed Iout' in the appended claims.

a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2lis a central vertical 'longitudinal section thereof, taken on line 2 2 of .Fig-. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section thereof, takenupon line 3 3'of Fig. 2. Fig. 4'l is a cross-section thereof, taken upon line 4 4 of Fig. 2.A Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of one end of the shaking vibratin tray of the apparatus,fshowing a modified orm'of the means for supporting said tray. Fig. 6 is a viewy in longitudinal section of the tray shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan'view of one end of atray', showing aconstruction in the supportingsurface thereof diering somewhat from that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken upon line 8 8 of Fig; .72, Fig 9 isi a cross-sectionalv view'taken up'o'n'line 9 v9 of,

Fig. 7. 10 is a sectional viewofthe'end of the apparatusvto which the' articlesftobe i. f Specification of Letters-Patent, 1 -I Application ledDvecembfer 28, 1904. .Serial No- ,238'.583,

for use in plating or coating small metal'a'rtii Gurn MEAKER.' oFcHicAGo, ILLINOIS.

aLETRoPLATme A'PPARA-rus.

Patented 'March 1a, 1906.

ivplatedare applied'or fed, showing a construction 'in the means for actuating the feedingreceptacle of the apparatus I. As shown in said drawings, A indicates a tank or receptacleto contain the liquid-bath or electrolyte used in the plating operation, the

same Abeing herein shown as having the form of an elongated rectangular opentopped .trough Within" said' .trough and located hear-the bottom thereof, so that it shall be always covered by' the electrolyte, is a horizontallydisposed rece' tacle or tray- B, which serves as a support or the articles tobe electroplated. -The bottom or supporting surreticulated character and is made of metal or conducting material. p immersed within the electrolyte above said tray4 are a series of anodes C C @consisting of`pieces or platesof e the metal of which the electrodeposited coating is formed. The anodes C are ,connected with one terminal of an electric generator, (indicated diagraminatically4 by 1),) while the metallic supporting surface or bottom of the .tray B is connected by suitable face B 'of said tray'is of open, foraminous, or

conductorsfwith the opposite 'pole of said electric generator D, the construction being such that the current generated passes from the generatori) throughthesaid anodes and the electrolyte, throughthe metal objects resting v'on the supporting-surface' of the tray, and

from said metal'supporting-surface to the other terminal ofthe generator.- In the particular construction shown in the drawings the anodes C C C are supported by wires c' from a conducting-rod C, connected by a In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s conductor D Withthe generator D, `While' to Y jarring, or vibrating said tray in such inanner that th'earticles supported' thereon will besvhifted or inoved constantly or'intermit- .tingly in one direction, so that if. said articles be constantlysupplied or fed to one end of the traythey will Athrough the vibratory. moveiment-thereof be caused -to move or travel end- Wise of .the tray until dischargedfroin the opposite end thereof. "Various forms o f 'cnstruction inthe tray andin'actuating devices `to give movement thereto maybe employed for the purposeofeffectingaconstant or confrom the opposite .pole of the tinuous movementor travel of the articles or objects to be plated along or upon the tray. In the particular construction shown means for this purpose are provided as follows: The

said tray is shown as consisting of a rectangular open wooden frame to which the bottom B', which may be made of woven Wire, is secured at its margins. Cross-bars B2 are shown as extending across the frame of the tray below ging or to keep 1t level.l The trayv is sup.-l

ported in the receptacle A in s uch manner that it .may ha'v a horizontal endwise-reciprocatory movement. The supporting devices illustrated consist of two `metal rods E E, A

extending horizontall across the tank a short distance above t e bottom thereof and which are supported at their ends on the side walls of the tank. The tray rests and slides upon said rods, its -side frameieces being provided with metal guides b preferably -made of U form, with their A.u per and lower horizontal parts above and be o w the rods in tal transverse shaft F. Said shaft'is provided with two cams F F, each having a volute cam-surface 'and an abrupt or radial shoulder f at one point in its circumference.

- A horizontal transverse `rock-shaft G is arranged at the rear and above the shaft F, the same being, as herein shown, supported in standards gg, which rise from .the side-walls of the receptacle A. Mounted on said rockshaft G are two vertically-disposed levers H H, which are pivotally connected at their up.- 'r

per ends with the ro ck-shaft and which are arranged in the same vertical planes with the cams F F. v Said levers H H extend at their lower ends below the level of the shaft F and.

ends thereof.

are connected at said lower ends with the 4ad-v jacent end of the trayBby means f connecting-rods 7L h. The levers-iHH-'ar A.provided with shoulders h h and are ada ted tof-bear at their parts above said shdul ers?against,y

the rear margins of thecai'm'siF F. Thefsaid tact with'said cams b means of suitably-apthe bottom B to prevent thelatter from sag- -levers H Hare herein shown as held in conplied sp'rings, herein s own as having the form of s irally-forrned contractile spri-ngs I I,

whic 'are attached to a rod I', extending across the receptacle and connected with a cross-bar I2, which is attached to and extends between the two levers H H near the lower versH are so arranged with lres ect to' the shoulders f of the cams that as t e cams are rotated t e'levers H will' be' thrown backwardly through vthe action of the volute sur- The shoulders h h of the le- `overhangs the feed end of the tray and is` facesof the cams, and when the shoulders f reach the said shoulders h h the levers wi l be drawn suddenly or ickly forward by the action of the springs Iql. This arrangement ofthe parts produces an endwise movement on, the traybein-g moved slowlyin a backward or rearward direction by'tli'e action ofthe volute portions'of the caln and tray -being V thrown suddenly or quickly forward when the shoulders of the cams pass the shoulders on the levers, so as to. ive a `quick or rapid forward movement to t e tray with the articles thereon'. The sudden advance movement and stop age of the tray when the shoulder on the ever dro s over the shoulder on the cam imparts rapi forward movement to the articles on ther/traL ,.-Jvhich4 continues when the movement'i't e tray is arrested, and thereby produces ihgtcrmittent forward movement of the articles oni/he tray so long as the same continues to vibrate.

. .i Devices for feeding the-articles to be elec* jj troplated to the vibrating tray and for removing the articles from the delivery or tail end of the tray are provided as follows: As' shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a feed-receptacle J is l supported on the tray B above the receiving end of the same, said receptacle being supported a sufficient distance above the tray to Aan"- in position convenient for the delivery there v o of the articles to be operated u on.

The receptacle J is open at'its side w 'ch slightly lnclined downward toward its open side, so that/articles resting on its bottom may fall freely from its forward edge, which latter extends across the full Width of the tray. It follows that the articles delivered to the feed-receptacle and spread thereon by a farring movement imparted to the same will be distributed over the full width of the receptacle, or substantiall so, and will thus be delivered to the tray tfiroughout the full wid th thereof. Thev said ,receptacle J bein' in this instance attached to or lsupporte upon the tray partakes of its jarring or vi-- vbrator movement, so that articles delivered to ont own upon the bottom of the rece tacle will be continuously moved or shifte to- `ward the forward end of the receptacle and 'will /be thereby -caused to fallfrom the same p lupon the perforated or. reticulated bottom of I 2O shown in said Figs. 1 and 2 the tray is made adjustable in its inclination with respect to the tray. In the particular construction the tray, so 4that the bottom of said reccpta-l [cle may be inclined to a greater or less extent toward its forward or discharged edge, the intent bein-gJthat the receptacle should be adjusted to a/greater or less angle for the pur- "pose ofincreasing or decreasing the rate of .feed of the articles to the tray, such adjustment of -theangular position of the bottom of 1 or travel yon the tray'o'f articles resting therebe above the surface of the liquid in the tank IOO IIO

' jarringinovement to effect the feed of the jj', and the tray isconn'ected with the for `-easily moving the tray being required by reason of different ward standard`by means of hinged connections y'., while the rear end of the trayis proyvided with hinged braces vjs, placed in either oneof the series of .teeth or notches y'4, formed in the rear standards y" for the purpose ofeleva-ting the-rear ofthe receptacle to a greater or less extent, as desired. r i

.For conveying away or out of the tank the articles discharged from ,the rear or-tail lend of the tray B, I have shown an endless travel-4 'ing lconveye'r-loelt K, which is trained. over Y rollers K K2, the roller K being located near the bottom of the tank-beneaththe discharge end of the Itray B, while the roller K? is lo'- K (illustrated) consist of a driving-belt L,

cated v'above and outside of the rear end wall of .said tank. Devices for driving the belt trained over a pulley Z on the shaft F, 'and a like belt-pulley Z on the shaft of the pulley K2; Said. belt K is shown as provided with cross' slats or ridges by which the articles del'posited onv thelower fend thereof'arc held from slipping backward on and are 'carried .upwardlywith the conveyer-belt. A ho per M,secured to the discharge end 'of t e f tank Avbelow `the roller K2, is adapted to'receive the articles as they fall fronizsaidbelt and discharge theminto asuitable receptacle.- vWhile the feed -receptacle-J isjshown in Figs.A 1 and 2 as mounted on-the tray Bandmoving therewith, yet this construction is not essenti'ahand sad receptacle may be other Wise supportedand given avibratory movement as required for producing constant feed 1 or deliveryof the articles therefrom tothe tray by any suitable device adapted for the' purpose; as',for instance, in Fig. 10 is shown areceptacle J which receptacle is pivotally mounted near its forward or discharge-end upon a horizontal transverse`-pivot-rod J2, `whichi's attached at itsends to the side walls of the tank A and extendsacross the same'.A

.The rear' end of said receptacleJ in this instance'restsupon the two cams F F and its rear' end is lso located with respect `to the abrupt surfacesl or shoulders of said cams that said rear end -ofthe tray Will be lifted by the volutesurfaces of the cams as the latter .revolve and will when the abrupt surfaces vof the cams pass the rear edge of the tray drop past said. abrupt surfaces, and thus produce a of the. articles undergoing-,the electroplating which may be` that all portions of the articles Wil be equally i,

presented toward'the anodes and will eually receive the deposits of plating metal. n the 'case of articleswhichare more o r less of s mmetrical form' and will tend by reason' of t cir shape toroll over or rotate upon the bottom 'of tli'e-'tray-as they advance'no special provision willv be required to," effect the continuous turning of the articlesg, butin the case of articles moreirregular inpshape .or which are fiatsidedand which by their shape will in their forward movement naturally tend to maintainone-position .upon land to slide over or along the bottom of the tray Withoutt 0 over it willbe necessary to provide speci means for'turningthe articles as they move or y'advance on'the tray. In one forinfof the tray B (shown in'Figs. 5 .and 6) its bottoni'is transversely corrugated on ridged, and so `sha ed as to form a series of inclines-b b.' b

an connecting upright lportions or abrupt shoulders bfa b2, which extend from side to' side thereof,` the said shoulders facing toward 'therear or discharge end of the tray. 'When inthe use Aof the tray thus 'made articles are beingfplated, such-as nuts,y which have fiatsides'and which are liableto slideon the supporting-surfaces of thel tray-bottoni wit-hout turning over thefarticle will rise on the inclines ofthe corru ations and as they fall over the vertical' s oulders thereof will be turnedoverfor reversed in position, thereby insuring the constant turning of the articles as they successively pass over the several, transverse ridges on the tray-bottom".

In Figs. .7, 8,'. and 9 I have'jshown another construction in the tray-bottoni Wherein'the same is` divided into rectangular sections b3 b4, of which the v sections b* are longitudinally corrugated, while the intervening sections b3 nearest the discharge end ofthe tray and sep- IOO arated from'each other `by 'vertical transverse lshoulders b5. The advantage gained by maks ying' the supporting surface or sanieof corrugated forni is that at-sided articles, such as nuts, will be supported by the corrugated surface on angular .or oblique positions .and will by' reasonv of' the. vibratory art of' the. f

motion given to the tray *constantly change I .their positions asthey move along the supporting-surface of the tray. Moreoven b v*v making the alternate sections of corrugated and flat forni articles, such as nuts or the like,

having flat sides; parallel with and at right aligles to. each other. will during-a part of vtheir Ajourney along the tra)T bev supported with their flat sides horizontal andl at other times with their flat sides in angular position toai io are flat. ofthe sections are, however, ini c'li'nedwith their highest Dortionsor edgestiental planertiiereby insuring greater .ornut 1nthe .deposition of the metal,

Y Supporting-surface of this kind wiliafford the said 'articles resting fon the surface'and the -cenductorswhich lead to the generator o rd lname andv will at the same time insure tiie nmaintenance of constant contact of the liquid an of the bath with parts of the surface of said articies;.yet this construction is not essential, j asupporting-surface of sheet metal may used, especiallyif the samebe of corrugated orm-,'as shownA in Figs. 7, 8, andQ, or otherthe presentation of all sides thereof upwardly or toward anodes as said articles aremoved or shifted along the tray. f t jneimportant'feature of my invention' is embraced Lnmeanslffor. supporting the objects .or articles to -be electroplated within the electroplating-bath in connection 'with means for mo i 'or shifting'the said articles along or throng the bath during theplating process, ggf; .and-so-ar as said broad feature of .constructionrisfoncerned I do/not wish to be limited parts herein illustrated and above'described. Another important feature of my invention is embodied in an apparatus embracin in connectionl with such means for bodily lmening or shifting the articles. of means for (turning over the saine during their forward or bodily progressive movement.

Y Other features ,of construction illustrated la'nd described also constitute important Jfeatures of my invention and are pointed out as such in the appended claims.

' I claim as my invention- D 5o i. An electroplating apparatus comprising sheet metalnot .1 the u'setf pel-feared, femmina-.(1, l er reticulated sup exiting-.surface for the arti-. cies'te be. electrop atedis'preferred. because a necessary metallic connection between the .Wisesha'ped to facilitate the turning of the' to the particular details or arrangement of a tank for containing an electrolyte, atray for supportinv the articles to beplated, the bottom of which is made of conducting material, and means forgiving endwise vibratory motion to said trayconstructed to advance articles resting on thc tray-bottoni from one end of. the tray to the other.

f2. An electrop'lating apparatus embracing a tank containing an e ectrolyte, a generator, an anode, a tray for supporting the articles to be treated, the bottom of which constituting thecathode-terminal and means for giving endwise vibratory motion to said tray; the supporting-surface of the tray having transverse shoulders to effect the turning of the said articles during their progressive movement.

3. An electroplating a paratus comprising a 'tank containing an e cctrolyte, a generator, an anode, a tray for supporting the articles to be plated, the bottom of which constitutes the cathode-terminal, and means for giving endwise vibratory movement to said tray adapted to afford a slow rearward and rapid forward movement of the same.

4. A n electropiating a paratus comprising a tank containing an e ectrolyte, a generator, an anode, a tray for supporting the articles to be plated, said tray having abottom which constitutes the cathode-terminal, and means for givinv'vibratorv movement to said tray, the said bottom of the tray being of ridged or corrugated form.

5. `Ain electroplating ap aratus com ris'- ing a tank containing an e ectrolyte, a orizontally-moving tray located in said tank, and means for giving endwiseI v ibratory movement to said tray, embracing a rotating cam having an abrupt shoulder and a lever which is acted vupon by said cam and which is connected with said tray.

In testimony that K my invention I aiiix my signature, 1n presence of two Witnesses, this 19th day of December, A. D. 1904.

GUY L. MEAKER.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, Gy WILKINs. 

